AFC Cup: Song Lam Nghe An lose first game

Marko Simic of Persija Jakarta heads a ball during a match against Song Lam Nghe An during the AFC Cup’s Group H. Persija win 1-0. (Source: the-afc.com)

Hanoi (VNA) - Song Lam Nghe An suffered their first setback in this
season’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup on March 14 after losing to
Persija Jakarta 1-0.

The Vietnamese side travelled to Jakarta with only 16 players, with most of
their top players rested for domestic fixtures.

However, coach Nguyen Duc Thang believed his young could at least bring
one point home from the 76,000-seater Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Persija had the better of the opening stages but struggled to create any
clear-cut chances, with striker Marko Simic’s header over the bar from Ismed
Sofyan’s cross the closest they came in the first 30 minutes.

Simic played for three clubs in Vietnam in 2015-16.

As the half wore on, the game was being played almost entirely in the Song Lam
Nghe An half and it was Simic who looked the most likely to score, as the big
Croatian curled over as the interval approached, before Riko
Simanjuntak had a goal ruled out for offside minutes before the interval.

Persija continued to pressure the visitors after the break and substitute
Adisson’s left-foot effort was well saved by goalkeeper Le Quang Dai, before
the midfielder had an effort ruled out for handball soon after.

Simic’s header from Rezaldi Hehanusa’s corner was cleared off the line and the
forward came close once more when he headed Adisson’s cross from the left wide.

Bambang Pamungkas was then introduced with 12 minutes remaining as the hosts
went all out for the win and the striker’s looping header was pushed over by Dai
in the 85th minute.

The visitors could have snatched a goal as the clocked ticked down
but Ho Tuan Tai curled just wide with two minutes remaining as the draw seemed
the inevitable outcome.

But Persija won it in dramatic fashion when Adisson volleyed home a superb
effort from the right side of the area in the third minute of added time after
a long ball over the top to send the stadium into raptures.

The win moves Persija above Song Lam Nghe An by virtue of a better head-to-head
record in Group H, both have seven points.

The Indonesian side will host Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on April 10 while
the Vietnamese team play Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Vinh city on April 24.
Song Lam Nghe An beat Tampines 2-0 in the reverse fixture on February 10.-VNA